The Tennessee Titans just missed out on the playoffs in 2018, losing a winner-take-all game to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17 and finishing with a record of 9-7.
Now, going into 2019, the Titans are hoping to erase the memory of that painful loss and get back to the postseason.
Tennessee is certainly a solid team, but the general consensus is that it will not make the playoffs this coming season because it simply has too many holes on its roster, most notably on the offensive end.
There are plenty of concerns for the Titans heading into 2019, and here are the three main ones:
3. The Direction of the Offense
I'm not even sure if Tennessee itself knew which direction its offense was headed in 2018, and that is clearly reflected in the Titans' usage of running back Derrick Henry.
Before Week 14, Henry had totaled double-digit carries just seven times and had not rushed for 60 yards in any one single game, accumulating 50 yards only three times.
But from Week 14 on, Henry became the focal point of the offense, scoring eight of his 12 rushing touchdowns on the season and racking up 585 yards, which was seriously over half of his yardage total on the season.
So, basically, the Titans went from rarely using Henry at all to running him ragged over the final four games of the season.
In 2019, Tennessee needs to find a scheme and stick to it.
2. The Receiving Corps
Corey Davis established himself as the Titans' No. 1 receiver this past year, hauling in 65 receptions for 891 yards and four touchdowns. Tennessee also signed Adam Humphries to play alongside him this offseason.
But the Titans are going to need a group effort from their wideouts in order to be a respectable offense.
A lot of that, of course, falls on Marcus Mariota, but his receivers also need to make plays. That means guys like Taywan Taylor and Tajae Sharpe are going to have to step up and provide Mariota with more options.
The good news is that tight Delanie Walker will be back after missing all but one game in 2018, so he will help spread the offense out, but either Davis is going to need to take his game to the next level and become a dynamic No. 1 or the supporting receivers are going to have to become more of a factor.
1. Marcus Mariota's Health
Mariota's first two seasons in the NFL were actually solid, particularly in Year 2 when he threw 26 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.
It's easy to forget that, however, based on his last two years, as Mariota has totaled 24 touchdowns and 23 picks in 2017 and 2018. That is a terrible ratio, and while we can pile on Mariota for not playing well, we also need to keep in mind he hasn't been healthy.
Mariota has been bothered by both elbow and leg issues over the last two seasons, which have kept him from performing at his highest level.
Now, obviously, Mariota himself deserves some blame, as those numbers are inexcusable no matter how you slice it, but if he can stay healthy in 2019, perhaps he will begin to resemble his 2016 form when he looked like a good young quarterback on the rise.
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